Last week, I had the pleasure of engaging in an exciting discussion about Africa’s potential with Christian Hiller von Gaertringen and Table.Briefings. We explored the vast opportunities and challenges that this fascinating continent presents.
Volkswagen has been active in Africa for more than 70 years, starting it all off in South Africa, where our plant in Kariega has a significant presence. From there, we manage our operations in many African countries, such as Kenya, Rwanda or Ghana and soon potentially also Egypt.
Our African team, under the leadership of Martina Biene, is doing an excellent job, driving both VW's success in Africa and at the same time the industrialization of the entire continent: We're building progress for society by creating jobs and prosperity and offering clever mobility services to meet the needs of the population. In the AAAM - African Association of Automotive Manufacturers, we bring politics and business together to create investor-friendly framework conditions and unleash Africa's economic potential.
As Chairman of the Subsahara-Afrika Initiative der Deutschen Wirtschaft (SAFRI), I am committed to deepening the partnership between Germany and Africa. There is so much more to do and explore.
Our goal at SAFRI is to bundle, simplify and enforce the engagement of German business in Africa while focusing on five key areas: legal framework and free trade, raw materials, new technologies and innovations, financing, and local value creation.
SAFRI is an initiative by DIHK, BDI - Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. and BGA, Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft (German - African Business Association).
The next major milestone will be the German-African Business Summit 2024 in December in Nairobi/ Kenya, where we want to achieve concrete results and agreements. We’re aiming to position Germany as a strong and reliable partner for Africa, thus contributing to economic and social development – a win-win situation.
From my own experience I know, that Africa is a fascinating continent with enormous potential. And I look forward to further exploring and fostering these opportunities.